Art of composite photography



n'untar Alion/105 Original Filed July 2, 1934 C B DREYER AT OF COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPHY l d .h5 mw Dec. 14, 1937.

Reissued Dec. 14,1937

ART OF COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPHY Charles B. Dreyer, Los Angeles, Calif., assignoi to HenryF. Boeger, Los Angeles, Calif.

Original No. 2,056,508, dated October 6, 1936, Se-

rial No. 7333403, July Z, 1934. Application for reissue November 28, 1936, Serial No. 113,266

12 Claims. (Cl. 88-16) This invention relates to a method of producing composite photographic records, such as composite records of images originally photographically recorded on separate films. Methods of composite .photography are particularly useful in cinematography wherein it is often highly desirable to create illusionsor to form a single transparency, suitable for projection and exhibition, such transparency bearing thereon images of objects or scenes photographed at differing times in different localities. The background, for example, may have been taken in the Swiss Alps whereas the foreground objects or actors may have been photographed Within the studio. By being able to produce a composite photograph bearing the foreground in proper relationship tothe background, the co'st of transporting actors to foreign lands is obviated.

Heretofore, methods of composite photography necessitated the use of mats or masks and nu# merous positive, negative and intermediate `films in the preparation of finished positives or nega;- tives containing composite images. As a result, the film cost and the cosil of developing, printing, etc., constituted a very material item. The present invention; on the other hand, perm-its the formation of a composite negative from the-two negatives bearing the foreground and background respectively without the necessity of forming separatefmats or other film strips. It has been discovered that when the filml on which. the final compositevimage or scene is to be recorded is of such charactervas to permit the formation of an unstable latent image, which image would be normaliy capable of being 'converted into a negative 'oy further exposure to Vlight of various wave lengths or capable of total or partial destruction or non-developability by exposure to long Wave lengths, the latent image of the background can be impressed upon the final stock and portions of such background image then destroyed so as to y leave spaces` into which the foreground may be printed. The final or composite. stock 4may then be converted into either a positive or a negative, depending upon the character and intensity of light to which the stock is exposed duringde- Velopment.. l

In other Words, the images impressed, destroyed and retained or reversed in the emulsionr of the final stock or composite lm are controlled by varying the intensity and frequency or character of'the lighting used during the printing, recording, fading and/or reversing operations.

Y More specifically stated, one preferred method of carrying out this invention comprises forming a latent unstable image impression of the background image upon the final negative', vthen destroying those portions of the latent background image upon the final negative in which foreground is to be recorded, then forming a latent 5 unstable image of foreground in those portions of the final negative in which the background image was destroyed, and finally exposing the final negative, during development, to light of substantially the entire spectrum to produce a com- 10 posite negative.

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a method of producing composite photographic recordings in a rapid, simple and economical manner- Another object-is to provide a method of producing composite photographs from separate negativesby regulated-and successive use of light of short and long Wave lengths.

A further object is to provide a method of forming composite photographs from two or more separate records in which a latent, unstable image is first formed and' parts of said image then destroyed.

Again, an object of this invention is to provide 25 a method of composite photography in which composite negatives may be obtained from separate negatives of foreground and background` without the necessity -of using positives or of dubbing. s v

These and other objects, uses, advantages, modications and adaptations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred method of carrying out the invention and certain 35 modifications thereof. In this description use will be repeatedly made of the Words final negative. By this term reference Will be had to the final composite film bearing the combined images of the separately taken source films.

Itis to be understood that the term negative ``as used herein is used in 'its broad sense and includes a film carrying an image either in positive form or in negative form, since the process may be conducted by using either normal negatives or normal positives for the source films. Inorder to facilitate understanding, `the terms negativel form and positive form 'will be used Whenever a photographic reversal in form of image is lre 50 tives but may also carry the images from a greater number of source negatives.

In describing the invention, reference will be had to the appended drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents a positive image of a background scene. i

Fig. 2 is the negative of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a positive of foreground or action.

Fig. f1 is a negative of such action or foreground.

Fig. 5 diagrammatically represents the formation of a latent unstable image on the final negative.

Fig. 6 diagrammatically represents a second step in the formation of a composite negative.

Fig. 7 represents the third step in the formation of a composite negative.

Fig. 8 represents the fourth step in the formation of a composite negative.

Fig. 9 represents the completed composite negative. i

`As shown in Fig. 1, the background scene has a substantially white eld III with two side planes II and I2 which are dark.' The foreground of thissce'ne is of an intermediate shade, indicated at I3. As a result, the field of the negative shown in Fig. 2 is substantially black. as indicated at I', whereas the sides II and I2' are transparent. The foreground I3 is intermediate in shade or density. The negative film will be generally identified by the numeral 14.

The foreground which it is desired to introduce into the scene carried by the film image of Fig. l may consist of a tree I5. This tree (or other foregroundobject) is preferably photographed in front of an actinic background such as a white or blue background, resulting, in a negative indicated by the numeral I6 bearing the image of the tree I' on a substantially opaque field I1.

For the purpose of producing negatives with dense fields, the film on which the negativo I6 is obtained may well be a panchromaticfilm with a surface emulsion of panchromatic type coated upon a lower emulsion layer of the fast bromide type. A duplicating negative stock manufactured by Eastman Kodak Company is a fine grained fllm suitable for use in this process.

In combining the two scenes, and particularly in combining the images carried by the 'background negative I4 and the foreground negative I8, it is desirable to use a film for the nal negative which is fast and has a maximum sensitivity to wave lengths of the violet and ultraviolet poralo tions of the spectrum. Through experience it has been found that the preferable final stock emulsion should be substantially free from lodides and chlorides as films answering this requirement appear to give the best results. negative-stock is indicatedin section aty i8, the emulsion layer being indicated at I9.

In the first step of the process, the background negative I4 is placed in printing relation to the final negative stock IB, as shown in Fig. 5, and subjected to the action vof a printing light of short wave length so as to form a latent, unstable image impression in the emulsion I9 of the final negative stock I8. Fig. 5, which includes avertical section taken along the plane V-V of Fig. 2,

I Vmshows that the intermediate foreground portion.

I3' of the background negative extends for a considerable distance up into the picture area.

It has been found that'light of a wave length shorter than'about 0.5 micron (5000 A) should used.k v'I'lie time of exposure should be 1 second or less, dependingsomewhat upon whether or not the final` negative stock I8 vhas been pre-treated and the character of such pretreatment. At all events, the result of the operation should be that an unstable image impression of the background -is formed in the emulsion I9 of the final' negative foreground I3', this impression being indicated at 23. After the foreground negative I6 is placed in printing relation with the final negative I8, it is subjected to a fading light capable of destroying those portions of the latent background image upon the negative I8 in which the foreground object is to be recorded. In Fig. 6, I5' represents the image of the object carried by the foreground negative and the fading light passes'through this image, thereby destroying a portion of 'the latent image 23 which had been formed during the rst printing step. The destruction of the background .latent image is indicated by the blank space 24.

The portion of the background latent image which has been destroyed in thisv manner will not result in a visible image in the event the lm is developed at this stage of the process.

In destroying the latent background image, it is desirable to use light of a frequency below the normal sensitive range of the emulsion I9. In

other words, the light used during the fading operation, indicatedin Fig. 6, should bejlonger in wave length-than that to which the final negative emulsion I9 is sensitive, ordinarily light g longer in wave length than about 0.6 micron It is to be observed that inasmuch as the field I'I' of the foreground negative I6 is dense and practically opaque, the fading light does not affect thoseportions of the latent image of the emulsion I9 which are covered by such field II.

It may be mentioned that the time of exposure to the long wave lengths during this fading operation may be. as much as 5 seconds Without deleterious effect upon the final negativey emulsion I9. l ,f

Aftr having thus made a space in the final negative emulsion I9 for zthe `reception of an image of the foreground, the operation indicated in Fig. '1 is performed. This is a printing operation in which the foregroundl negative I6 is printed upon the final negative stock I8 by the use oflight of shortwave length, such as ultraviolet or light shorter in wave length than about 0.5 micron. It is not necessary lto move the foreground Anegative Il'with respect to the final negative stock I8 during the fading and printing operations. As indicated in Fig. '7, the image of the tree I5' is thus printed into the space 24, resulting in-an image 25.

At the conclusion of this last printing operation which preferably consumes less than 5 seconds (determined by the source and intensity of the light), the foreground negative I6 lis removed, resulting in an undeveloped film I8 (in- Y dlcated in Fig. 8) bearing latent images of both foreground and background negatives I6 and I4.

velopment the film is exposed to light of sub- This lm is then developed but duringdestantially the entire visible spectrum', that is, to

applied before the development is complete and at all times before the 4fixing operation. Upon development, the film I8 is found to be a negative of the character shown in Fig. 9 bearing a negative record of both the foreground and background images in a suitable relationship to each other. No ghost or shadow, for example, lis visible in the developed film. If the film is not exposed to light during -'development, then a' composite positive is obtained instead of the negative described hereinabove.

Reference has been made hereinabove tothe pretreatment of the negative iilm I8. This pretreatment `is for the purpose of limiting the sensitivity of the emulsion I9 to only very short wave lengths, such as Wave lengths shorter than ultraviolet. Furthermore, the pretreatment should render the film capable of forming the latent unstable images in a short period of time and should also aid the ability of the emulsion to permit destruction of the latent image by light of wave lengths longer than those to which the emulsion is normally sensitive. The film may be subjected to Washes with various and sundry materials; solutions of/quinine sulfate, methylene blue, fiuorescein, potassium ferricyanide, etc., have been successfully used.

One solution which has been found very effective comprises grams ferricyanide, 10 milligrams methylene blue, less than 1 milligram of milligram of malachite green. A third illustrative solution comprises grams of potassium ferricyanide in 1000 cc. of Water to which 50 cc. of 28% hydrogen peroxide is added just before using. The film is soaked in this solution for.

about 4 minutes and allowed -to dry Without any washing.

I claim:

1. In a method of forming a composite photograph from two separate negatives bearing a background image and a foreground image respectively, the steps of: forming a latent unstable image of the background image upon the final negative by printing the background negative upon the final negative with light of wave lengths shorter than about 0.5 micron; then rendering the latent background image undevelopable in those portions only in which the foreground image is to be recorded, by subjecting those portions of the latent image upon the final negative to light of Wave lengths longer than that to which theiinal negative emulsion is sensitive; forming a latent unstable image of the foreground image in those portions of the final negative in which the background image was rendered undevelopable; and finally developing such final negative and exposing it to light of substantially the entire spectrum during such developing to produce a'composite photograph containing desired portions of the background image and the foreground image. j

2v. In a method of forming a composite photograph from two separate negatives bearing la background image and a foreground image respectively, the steps of: forming a latent unstable image of the background image upon the final Vnegative by printing the background negative upon the iinal negative with light of Wave lengths shorter than about 0.5 micron; then rendering the latent background image undevelopable in those portions only in which the foreground image is to be recorded, by subjecting those portions of the latent image upon the final negative to light of Wave lengths longer than that to which the 'final negative emulsionis sensitive; forming a latent unstable image of the foreground image in those portions of the final negative in which the background image was rendered undevelop-A rand finally developing such final negative and exposing it to light of substantially the entire spectrum during such developing to producea composite photograph containing desired portions of the background image and the foreground image.

3. In a method of forming a composite photograph. from tvvo separate negatives bearing a background image and a foreground image respectively, the steps of: forming a latent unstable image of the background image upon the iinal negative by printing thev background negative upon the finalnegative with light of Wave lengths shorter than about 0.5 micron; then rendering the latent background image undevelopable in those portions only in which the foreground image is to'be recorded, by subjecting. those portions of the latent image upon the final negative to light of Wave lengths longer than about 0.6 micron; forming a latent unstable image of the.

foreground image in those portions of the final negative in which the background image was rendered undevelopable; and finally developing such final negative and exposing it to light of substantially the entire spectrum during such developing to produce a composite photograph containing desired portions of the background image and the foreground image. y A

4. In a method of forming a composite photograph from two separate negatives bearing a background image and a foreground image respectively, the steps of: forming a latent unstable image of the background image upon the nal negative by printing the background negative upon the final negative with light of Wave lengths shorter than about 0.5 micron; then rendering the latent background image undevelopableA in those portions only in which the foreground image is to be recorded, by subjecting those portions of the latent image upon the final negative to light of wave lengths longer than about 0.6 micron; forming a latent unstable image of the foreground image in those portions of the final negative in which the background image was rendered undevelopable, by printing the negative bearing the foreground image onto the final negative with light of wave lengths shorter thanv about 0.5 micron; and finally developing such final negative and exposing it to light rof substantially the entire spectrum during such developing to produce a composite photograph con` which the foreground image is to be recorded,'

by subjecting those portions of the latent image lupon the final negative to light of wave lengths longer than that to which the final negative 20. ground image in those portions of the final negaemulsion is sensitive; forming a latent unstable image of the foreground image in .those portions.r

oi the final negative in which the background image was rendered undevelopable; and iinally developing such nal negative and exposing it to light of substantially the entirevspectrum during such developing to produce agcomposite photograph containing desired portions of the background image and the foreground image. n

6. In a method of .forming a composite photograph' from two separate negatives bearing a background image and a foreground image respectively, the steps of: forming a latent unstable image of the background image upon the final negative; then 1rendering the latent background image undevelopable in those portions only in which the foreground image is to be recorded; forming a latent unstable image of the foretive in which the background image was rendered undevelopable; and ilnally developing such final negative and exposing it to light of substantially the entire spectrum during such developing to produce a composite photograph containing 'desired portions of the background image and the foreground image.

7. In a method of printing a composite photograph in negative form from two separate negatives bearing a background image and a foreground image respectively in negative form, the steps of: forming a latent unstable ixnage of the background image upon the final negative emul.- sion, said emulsion being adapted to form latent unstable images capableof being destroyed by light of wave lengths longer than those to which the emulsion is normally sensitive; then rendering the latent background image undevelopable in those portions only in which the foreground image is to be recorded; forming a latent unstable image of the foreground image in those portions of thei final negative in which the background image was rendered undevelopable; and finally developing such nal negative and exposing it to light of substantially the entire spectrum during such developing to produce a composite pho-` I nasse able; and nnally developing the emulsion to obtain a composite photograph. g

9. In a method of printing a compositephotograph `iromtwo separate negatives bearing a background image and foreground image respectively in negative form, the steps of forming alatent unstable image lof the background image upon the ilnal emulsion by printing the background negative lupon the nal emulsionwith light of wave lengths shorter than about 0.5`

micron; then rendering the latent background image undevelopable in those portions only in `which the foreground imager is to be'recorded;

by subjecting those portions of the latent image 1 upon the iinal emulsion to light of wave lengths 'longer than that to which the ilnal emulsion is sensitive; forming a latent unstable image of the,

foreground image in those portions of the nal emulsion. in which the background image was rendered undevelopable; and ilnally developing the emulsion to obtain 'a photograph in positive form containing desired portions of the background image and the foreground image,

10. A method of the character `described in claim 9 in which the final emulsion is substantially free from iodides and chlorides, such emulsion being adapted to form latent unstable images capable of being destroyed by light of wave lengths longer than those to which the emulsion is normally sensitive.

11. InA a method of printing'a photograph from two separate negatives bearing" a background nal emulsion to light of wave lengths longerv than about 0.6 micron; forming a latent unstable image of the foreground image in those portions of the tlnal emulsion in which the background image was rendered undevelopable, by printing the negative bearing the foreground image onto the nal emulsion with light of wave lengths shorter than -about 0.5 micron;" and nally developing the emulsion to obtain a photograph in positive form containing. desired portions of the background image and the foreground image.

12. A method of the character dened in claim 6 in which the ilnal negative is provided with an emulsion which is substantially free from iodides and chlorides,y said emulsion being adapted to form latent unstable images capable of being destroyed by light of wave lengths longer than those to which the emulsion is normally sensitive.'

CHARLES B. DRJEISZ'ER..l 

